Young suspects may avoid court under terror laws shake-up

Young terrorism suspects could avoid prosecution if they agree to a diversion scheme under plans to tackle a post-lockdown surge in violent extremism.

- Vikram Dodd

The youth orders are part of a host of reforms announced by the government yesterday.

They include a new tsar to ensure Prevent - the official scheme to turn people away from terrorism - is as effective as it needs to be. Ministers claim they are providing new money to fight terrorism.

The original plan for youth orders was devised by Jonathan Hall KC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, and revealed by the Guardian almost two years ago. It was driven by concerns that using powerful terrorism laws against child suspects stigmatises them when they are not fully mature.

Officials believe that a proportion of those arrested - while clearly breaking the law for having online material such as terrorism manifestos - pose little threat of staging an attack. They also say the days of suspects being driven primarily by a clear ideology are long gone.